Everyone sweats. It is essential to survival. It is nature’s way of controlling body temperature and preventing overheating. Millions of sweat glands are spread over the body, but mainly collected on the armpits, soles of the feet, palms of the hand, forehead and cheeks. There are two types of sweat glands:

1. Apocrine glands are found in the armpits and the genital region. They produce a thick fluid. When this fluid comes in contact with bacteria on the skin’s surface, it produces a characteristic “body odor.”

2. Eccrine glands produce an odorless, clear fluid, that is mostly water and helps with temperature control. These are the glands that are mostly associated with hyperhidrosis.

There are two types of hyperhidrosis:

1. Primary hyperhidrosis is the most common kind. It is not caused by another medical problem. The cause is unknown. It usually begins during adolescence. It often runs in families. It doesn’t usually happen while you are asleep. Other names that mean the same thing are focal hyperhidrosis, idiopathic hyperhidrosis,or primary focal hyperhidrosis.

2. Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by another medical problem, such as menopause, cancer or diabetes, or as a side effect of medication. It usually occurs over larger areas of the body and not confined to specific areas of the body (hence the term generalized). It will also happen while you sleep. If you think that you may have this type of hyperhidrosis, it is essential to discuss this with your family doctor, to find out the underlying cause.

People with primary hyperhidrosis experience excessive amounts of sweating often at unpredictable times. It can worsen during times of stress. Sometime certain foods can stimulate the excess sweating. The excess sweating is usually restricted to underarms, hands, feet and face.

Common body areas for primary hyperhidrosis

Solutions

Botox®

Other Treatments

BOTOX® is a Prescription Medicine containing 100 units of botulinum toxin type A for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe primary hyperhidrosis of the axillae. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Talk to your specialist about the benefits/risks of this procedure. Cautions: People with defective neuro-muscular transmission disorders, infection at site of injection, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include a perceived increase in sweating in areas other than the underarms, pain at the injection site, pain, hot flushes and transient
arm weakness. If you have any side effects or concerns speak to your doctor. You will need to pay for this medicine. Normal Doctors visit fees apply. Note: BOTOX® treatment lasts about 7.5 months and after this time further courses of treatment may be necessary. Speak to your specialist about your own situation.